NCJ Number
47057
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 169-190
Date Published
1978
Length
22 pages
Annotation
TO OVERCOME METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS INHERENT IN USUAL RESEARCH METHODS UTILIZING POLICE DATA OR INFORMATION FROM APPREHENDED INDIVIDUALS, A PARTICIPANT-OBSERVER METHOD WAS USED TO STUDY SHORT-TERM CAREERS OF THIEVES.
Abstract
TRADING ON PAST PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED DURING YEARS OF COUNSELING AND SERVICE WORK, THE PARTICIPANT-OBSERVER GAINED ENTRY INTO SIX MAIN DELINQUENT GROUPINGS IN ONE AREA OF TORONTO, CANADA. THROUGH CASUAL ASSOCIATIONS IN ACTIVITIES AND RESIDENCE IN THE AREA, CONTACTS WITH TWO OF THE MOST DELINQUENT OF THE SIX GROUPINGS AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WERE EXPANDED. DATA WERE COLLECTED BY OBSERVATION ON 143 DAYS WITHIN 13 MONTHS OF INTENSIVE RESEARCH, AS WELL AS ON 40 ADDITIONAL DAYS DURING DATA ANALYSIS AND WRITING. EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON THE PERSONAL CHANGE AND SOCIALIZATION OF SELF-LABELED THIEVES, AND THOSE LABELED BY THEIR PEERS AND THE COURTS. THE SERIOUS THIEF IS FURTHER DEFINED AS ENGAGED IN SOME FORM OF THEFT FOR A PART OF HIS INCOME, AS NONMIGRATORY, AS HAVING NO HIGHLY DEVELOPED PROFESSIONAL THIEVING SKILL, AND AS FREQUENTLY APPREHENDED. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDED: SPECIALIZATION IN SHOPLIFTING, HOUSEHOLD OR COMMERCIAL BURGLARY, VEHICLE THEFT, AND FRAUD/FORGERY; AN OCCUPATIONAL PERSPECTIVE TOWARD THEIR ACTIVITIES; FROM WORKING/LOWER CLASS FAMILY BACKGROUNDS; UNDEREDUCATION AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT; AND AN AGE RANGE OF 15 TO 23. RECRUITMENT INTO OCCUPATIONAL THIEVING WAS USUALLY SITUATIONALLY DETERMINED BY A LACK OF ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES, EXISTING THIEVING OPPORTUNITY, AND AN INFORMAL PEER ORIENTATION TO THIEVING. A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN YOUNGER AND OLDER PEER GROUP MEMBERS, ENABLING YOUNGER MEMBERS TO MEET THE ALREADY-INITIATED. THE GROUPS ARE PRIMARILY FRIENDSHIP GROUPS, SO INITIATION INTO THIEVING OCCURS NATURALLY. BASIC SKILLS AND ATTITUDES ARE LEARNED THROUGH PEER GROUP ASSOCIATION, AND THE OCCUPATIONAL ORIENTATION TO THIEVING IS DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS. THE MAJORITY HAD BEEN LABELED AS DELINQUENTS DURING ADOLESCENCE. MOST THIEVES CARRIED OUT THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH COLLEAGUES FROM WITHIN THE PEER GROUP. ACCESS TO SERIOUS THIEVING TENDS TO RESULT IN A CAREER COMMITMENT AS A MEANS OF SOLVING ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. HOWEVER MOST SERIOUS THIEVES MAKE A CRITICAL MISTAKE WITHIN 2 TO 3 YEARS WHICH PRECIPITATES A CAREER CRISIS. AGING ALMOST INVARIABLY IMPLIES AN ACCUMULATING ARREST RECORD WHICH RESULTS IN A LOSS OF THOSE ATTRIBUTES WHICH FACILITATE THIEVING. AT THIS POINT THE THIEF MAY BECOME A HABITUAL RECIDIVIST; MAY PURSUE A SECOND CAREER SUCH AS BOOTLEGGING OR BOOKMAKING, OR MAY RETURN TO CONVENTIONAL CAREER PATTERNS AND MARRY. SITUATIONAL CHANGE, COUPLED WITH CONCOMITANT CHANGES IN MOTIVATIONS AND SELF-CONCEPT, APPEARS TO BE A USEFUL CONCEPT FOR EXPLAINING THE PROCESSES OF SOCIALIZATION AND PERSONAL CHANGE DESCRIBED IN THIS SAMPLE. NOTES AND SUBSTANTIAL REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)